This is the first blog in a special social media series looking at popular social media platforms that are used by children and young people. The series aims to help you develop a foundational understanding of common platforms and how to support children and young people who use them to have a safe and positive experience.

What is YouTube?

YouTube is a video-sharing site and app (13+). It’s one of the most popular social media sites or apps, used by 88% of 3-17-year-olds (Ofcom, 2023). There’s also YouTube Kids, a “more contained environment” for children (up to age 12) to explore the app, showing popular children’s videos.

Content on the platform comes in different formats – typical long-form content, YouTube Shorts, and YouTube Live for live streaming. You could watch these two examples of videos from Young Scot on gaming which show the different formats:  YouTube video and a YouTube short.

What content are children and young people watching on YouTube?

The type of content watched on YouTube reflects the child or young person, their age, and developmental stage. Some examples of popular content includes (but isn’t limited to):

• Cartoons
• Mini movies
• Songs
• Jokes/pranks
• Challenge videos
• Games-related content (e.g. livestreams)
• Vloggers (video bloggers), e.g. “Day in the Life/Get Ready With Me/What I Eat In a Day”
• Educational videos (recipes, exam support)
• News, sports, and entertainment
• Exercise videos

What are the potential harms? 

• Content promoting eating disorders e.g. low-calorie diets
• YouTubers sharing controversial views e.g. misogynistic, racist, homophobic content
• Blurred lines between influencer content promoting “healthy” lifestyle choices and content glamorising harmful behaviours (e.g. excessive exercise)
• Product sponsorships/adverts from creators seeming like genuine recommendations
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Links with body image concerns, loneliness, anxiety, impact on sleep
• Toxic comments sections where online hate and cyberbullying can take place

Specific concerns with design features:

• Algorithms recommending harmful context
• Features encouraging time spent on YouTube: recommended videos, auto-play feature, “subscribe” feature, YouTube Shorts scroll feature
  (These lists are not exhaustive)

What are the potential benefits?

• Way to relax, unwind, have fun, explore hobbies
• Learn new skills e.g. learning to cook/fix household items
• Source of health information, including fitness, health, gender identity, and self-care.
• Helps child or young person develop a sense of community, peer support, way to express self
• YouTubers sharing mental health struggles can help destigmatising mental health difficulties
  (This list is not exhaustive)

Helpful tips and resources 

• Try YouTube for yourself to best understand the benefits and risks
• Chat with the child or young person about what they are watching on YouTube, what they like about it, what they are learning, and who they are following
• Be aware of YouTube’s safety/privacy settings
  • E.g. via Internet Matters Social Media Guide
  • YouTube: Child Safety Tips and Tricks resource

• Teach or support the development of digital literacy, including critical thinking skills
  • E.g. Digital Matters /relevant RSHP resources

• Know where and how a child or young person can get help and what to do if they see anything that upsets them.
  • E.g. Our Online Harms Resource – Useful Websites, Helplines & Reporting.

You can download our newsletter so you have all of these resources to hand:

Aye Mind newsletter – Social Media Series – YouTube

If you would like to subscribe, email ggc.mhead@ggc.scot.nhs.uk and request to be added to the Aye Mind newsletter distribution list.